Loneliness in Of Mice and Men

Summary: Interwoven throughout John Steinbeck's novel Of Mice and Men is the reoccurring theme of loneliness and isolation. Characters such as Lennie, George, Candy, Crooks, and Curley's wife all feel isolated in different ways, whether it be on the basis of intelligence, age, race, or gender.

Loneliness. Alienation. Solitude. Isolation. There is not a person on this earth who hasn't felt lost, abandoned, or alone at some point in their life. Interwoven throughout John Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men is this theme of loneliness, displayed by characters such as Lennie, George, Candy, Crooks, and Curley's wife. These diverse individuals are all isolated in different ways, whether it be intelligence, age, race, or gender. The story is brutally and eminently true to life, void of heroes and brimming with real personalities facing genuine troubles.

Despite their fraternal companionship, Lennie and George can both be considered lonesome. Lennie is isolated from almost everyone, due to his mental slowness. The only person who cares enough to spend time with him is George, but their relations are more dependency than friendship. Lennie sees the world through rose-tinted glasses, unlike George, who is aware of...